Constant battle but, everlasting victory!
Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
We all were identified with Adam and Eve. It’s because of the sinful nature of Adam and Eve we were identified with them. We were married to their nature so to speak. But, now we have Christ and we have a new identity. Our names have been changed because our first husband has died. We have a new identity in Christ Jesus...old things have passed away behold all things have become new. 2 Corinthians:5-17. Sin is like trying to live with a straight jacket on but, we are set free because we now have a new relationship but, before we can be really free from our first nature, it must be dead, we must accept our new from Christ and lay the old to rest to be really free.
Paul also said in Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What does Paul mean when he says we are not “under law but under grace”? To be “under law” means that we must do something for God; to be “under grace” means that God does something for us.
Too many Christians are burdened with religious rules and regulations and good resolutions, not realizing that it is impossible to find holiness through their own efforts.
It's sad to see Christians living “under law,” striving in their own efforts to please God, when the new position they have in Christ and the new power in the Spirit makes it possible for them to enjoy victory and the blessings of grace.
Paul explains this in chapter 7...giving us both sides. (Please read all of Romans chapter 7 when you have time)
How many Christians feel that in the flesh they can do something that will please God? Some will get on committees to help run their church thinking they are pleasing God and although they are busy, they have no real connection with the person of Christ. Their life is not being lived through Him. They are attempting to do it in their own strength by the flesh.
They haven’t learned what Paul learned: Romans 7:18 “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.
They are busy as bees, but they are not making any honey so to speak.
I believe that's what wrong with a lot of our churches today many are busy doing things but, what they are doing is building a fleshly monument for their own glory. It’s a look what I've done kind of thing and not letting the Spirit of God work through them. Let me put in a personal way....I can preach a sermon but if Gods not in it ...it’s only words and has no effect. I can sing a song and brag that I wrote it but, if I don’t put the one out front that inspired that song in me, then it's only a song without meaning and no power.
Paul recognized that as long as he was in his mortal body he would face the conflict with the indwelling sin and would have defeated him in his own strength. It’s only through the Holy Spirit that we can have the victory through Jesus Christ but, it will always be a battle in the flesh. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:57
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
